(Photo by Kevin Mathewson, Kenosha County Eye)
PLEASANT PRAIRIE, Wis. – A 29-year-old Kenosha man is accused of striking a pedestrian with his SUV outside a Pleasant Prairie restaurant, then fleeing the scene without offering any help.
Michael F. Molinaro was charged Friday in Kenosha County Circuit Court with felony hit-and-run causing injury. Court Commissioner William Michel II set bail at $500. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for June 5.
(Kenosha County Sheriff)
According to the criminal complaint, the incident occurred around 6 p.m. on May 29 in the parking lot of El Camino Restaurant on 77th Street. A woman told police she and her husband had just exited their vehicle in a handicapped parking stall when a silver SUV began rapidly reversing toward them. She said the vehicle struck her husband, knocking him to the ground.
Witnesses said the driver remained in the vehicle for several seconds, then drove off without checking on the victim. One witness was able to record the license plate number before the SUV fled the area.
The victim suffered back pain and a scraped knee. He declined immediate medical attention but told police he intended to go to the hospital after dinner. He expressed willingness to prosecute.
Another witness confirmed the account, stating he saw the vehicle strike the man as he walked toward the restaurant and was surprised the driver did not exit to check on him. He attempted to photograph the license plate, but the SUV left before he could.
A restaurant manager identified the suspect as a regular patron. She said he had been acting confused, repeatedly asking for his bill and appearing disoriented. She offered to call him an Uber, but he snuck out the back door and drove off. He left behind a backpack containing a laptop and a billing statement with his name on it.
Police went to the suspect’s residence, where they found the SUV parked in the driveway with vomit down the driver’s side and throughout the interior. Officers said the man initially claimed he didn’t know why police were speaking to him and denied being involved in an accident.
He was arrested at 9:46 p.m.
If convicted, Molinaro faces up to nine months in jail and a $10,000 fine.
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22 Responses
Wow! Classless jerk
What is his relation to the rest of the Kenosha Molinaro clan?
Really? Does this matter or just your inquiring mind? SMH
That he didn’t do it.
Doesn’t matter!
Sure it does. You must be one of them
No Joe is not but he is a clown
Anonymous is a great name.
Why does it matter who his family is? One of what? I know many Molinaro’s and they are great people.
He works with disabled people he owns a gym special fitness
Good for him! Obviously doesnt care about his reputation very much.
And hits people in a disabled parking spot. Definitely off duty
$500 bail is high.
How only 500
The way it must have felt to put cuffs on him… nothing could compare
That is flipping wierd and really off the wall!
Can you see it coming, over served by the establishment will be his defense. Not my fault is the default defense in today’s world.
Yeah , and obviously an amateur , since he was vomiting all over.
Something seems out of the ordinary. Medication reaction? He lived a pretty law abiden life. Something is off.
The victim must have been very hungry if he declined medical attention until after he ate? LOL
If you’ve ever been hurt in an accident you’d know that it can take a few days before everything starts to hurt. Adrenaline kicks in for a number of hours. Add being elderly and he probably woke up the next day in severe pain.
I bet he was driving a company vehicle when he did it. I hope the elderly man files a civil suit and takes his company.